Pump for sani-quick glassware



p 1, 1964 G. B. FOX ETAL 3,146,718

PUMP FOR SANI-QUICK GLASSWARE Original FiledNov. 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG-1 INVENTORS GERALD 8. FOX,

DONALD E. VANDEVEER a BY HENRY E. WELSH ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1964 G. B. FOX ETAL PUMP FOR SANI-QUICK GLASSWARE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 6, 1958 FlG- 4 FIG- 3 INVENTORS GERALD B. FOX,

Y DONALD E. VANDEVEER a B HENRY E. WALSH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,146,718 PUMP FOR SANI-QUICK GLASSWARE Gerald B. Fox and Donald E. Vandeveer, Troy, Ohio, and Henry E. Welch, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application Nov. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 772,254, now Patent No. 3,044,092, dated July 17, 1962. Divided and this application May 17, 1962, Ser. No. 195,477 3 Claims. (Cl. 103-38) This invention relates to glassware cleaning machines suitable for cleansing tumblers and the like, and particularly to an improved metering pump suitable to add a liquid cleansing agent to liquid such as water used in the machine to clean the glassware.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 772,254, filed November 6, 1958, now United States Patent No. 3,044,092, issued July 17, 1962.

It is an object of the invention to provide a glass washing machine operation which provides at each cleansing cycle, a predetermined quantity of cleansing agent having both germicidal and detergent properties, the structure providing this being an axial flow positive displacement pump which delivers said cleansing agent during any selected portion of the cleansing cycle.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the glassware cleansing machine;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the conduit system for distributing the wash water and cleansing agent, including the metering pump which is the subject of this invention, the fluid distribution system being shown separate from the remaining washing machine components, and a part of the waste water removal system being also included;

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the axial flow metering pump used in measuring out liquid cleansing agent;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the pump valves showing their relative position during upstroke of the pump, effected when the machine is initially actuated;

FIG. 5 shows the check valve located at the discharge end of the pump illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram used in operating the various control elements for starting the machine and operating its various parts including an arrangement of safety features preventing operation of the machine under certain conditions.

Referring to FIG. 1, the glassware cleansing machine is indicated generally by reference numeral 20. The ma chine includes a cabinet 21 for housing a major portion of the operating mechanism. The front face 22 of the cabinet is provided with an oval shaped catch basin 23 and a cylindrical casing 24 which defines a washing chamber therein. The upper end of the casing 24 is sealed off by a rubber gasket 28 provided with a funnel shaped guard 30.

The glassware is inserted through the opening 31 in the guard and is passed into the washing chamber 25. Assuming that the glassware is a tumbler, it is inverted at the time it is put into the washing chamber 25, the position of the tumbler being shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 35. The inverted tumbler 35 fits over a central brush indicated generally by reference numeral 36, and details thereof are shown in said Patent No. 3,044,092 to which reference is made for a complete description of the construction and operation of the machine, the present specification being confined to the novel metering pump and parts associated therewith.

To cleanse the tumblers, a fresh water supply is provided through the inlet conduit 87 (FIG. 2) at tap temperature and no effort is made to elevate the temperature thereof. The incoming water passes through a screen 89 which strains out any foreign material in the incoming water.

An inlet valve 90 turns the supply of water off and on. The inlet valve 90 admits water at constant flow rate regardless of line pressure this being accomplished by suitable flow control orifice within the valve. The water supply is fed upwardly in a conduit 92 where it passes through an elevated vacuum breaker 95, the purpose of which is to prevent reverse flow of water back through the supply conduits 92 and 87 and into the potable water supply. Once the water supply passes the vacuum breaker it is fed downwardly through conduit 96 to a mixing chamber 98 where it meets with a slug of fluid cleansing agent which is brought from a storage tank (not shown) through line 102 by pump 104. The combination of cleansing agent and Water then leaves the mixing chamber 98 through a length of corrosion resistant conduit 105 which connects with a T 106 where the flow is divided between conduit 107 and conduit 108. The conduit 107 extends upwardly and is then bent into a circular outline 109 terminating at closed end 110. A series of perforations 111 project the water and cleansing agent inwardly in a spray which is directed against the external surface of the tumbler.

The fluid passes from conduit 108 eventually through the hollowed center of the support post of the center brush 36 and is ultimately discharged through outlet openings at the upper end of the post to subject the interior surface of the tumbler to a spray of water and cleansing agent to provide a washing and rinsing action at this interior surface.

To transfer the cleansing agent from the storage tank to mixing chamber 98, the pump 104 is solenoid actuated to pull the piston (FIGS. 3 and 4) upwardly causing a positive fluid displacement by axial flow through the pump. As the piston 130 moves upwardly, one-way valve 131 is raised from seat 132 against the resistance of spring 133 allowing liquid cleansing agent to flow in the direction indicated by the arrows. The ball check valve 135 remains seated by the spring 136. Within the reduced diameter portions 138 of the piston there is an annular spacing 139 which, being filled with fluid, is discharged through the outlet passage 140 against the resistance of spring loaded ball check valve 141. Thus, during the upstroke of the piston 130 a quantity of liquid cleansing agent is pumped from annular spacing 139.

When the machine ends the washing cycle, spring 142 pushes the piston 130 downwardly, closing the one-way valve 131, and the quantity of fluid trapped in expanded chamber 143 is passed upwardly, unseating ball check valve 135, and liquid cleansing agent is forced through interior chamber 144 and radial passage 145 to annular spacing 139. Since the cross sectional area of chamber 143 is greater than the cross sectional area of spacing 139, more fluid is displaced on the downstroke of the piston than was pumped during the upstroke of the piston. This additional volume is forced through outlet 140 as pro vided by the action of valves 131, 141. The slug of fluid which is pumped during downstroke of the piston 130 remains in the vicinity of chamber 98 since water flow is stopped at the time of the piston downstroke. The slug is retained in the chamber 98 and is carried out by the flowing water along with the slug of fluid displaced during upstroke of the piston 130 in the next cleansing operation. The pump 104 is thus double acting in that an axial flow is provided during operation of the pump in either direction. The pump is self-priming and is particularly adapted'to deliver precise quantities of cleansing agent. The quantity of liquid delivered for each reciprocation of the pump is measured by the length of stroke of piston 13%. This stroke length is regulated by means of a stern 148 threadedly received in an end plate 151 of casing 149 of the pump to define the lowermost position of the piston 139. Since the upstroke of piston 13% is controlled by solenoid operation, the regulation of pumping volume is determined by movement of the stem 148 so as to control movement of the piston 130 in the opposite or downward direction. Once an adjustment is made the stem is locked by nut 150. Accuracy of volumetric delivery by the pump can be adjusted and maintained to within extremely close limits.

The machine is inoperative when there is insufficient water pressure. A switch 172 (FIG. 6) responsive to pressure in the Water supply line is connected to line 88 (FIG. 2) which leads from the inlet water supply line 87. The switch 172 is arranged to break the circuit from conductor 175 to conductor 176 when the water pressure drops below a predetermined value.

To safeguard against operation of the machine where there is insuflicient cleansing agent, a float 177 is provided which is responsive to the level of the cleansing agent in the storage tank. The float 177 is arranged to drop with the falling level of detergent to open switch 173 breaking the circuit in conductor 176 to 179, thus preventing operation of the machine under these conditions. A light signal 189 is lit by completing a circuit from conductor 176 to conductor 181, signaling the need for replenishing the cleansing agent.

When the switch 179 is closed by insertion of a tumbler in washing position the timer 182 is started. Assuming that cleansing agent is to be used at the start of the washing cycle (no prewashing phase), the switch 183 is closed and switch 134 opened so that current is made to flow through conductors 136, 187 by operation of the timer 182 and thence through conductors 189, 191 and 193 to energize solenoids 194 to open inlet valve 94 and energize solenoid 196 to operate pump 1% by lifting piston 13%). Conductor 193 completes the circuit to motor 85 which has a capacitor 193 assuring substantially instantaneous starting operation of the motor 85. Conductors 2th), 2431 and 20 from the solenoids 1 6, 194 and motor 85 are connected with conductor 2.95 to complete the circuit to the master switch 2%.

For washing some kinds of residue from glassware such as milk or other fatty content materials, it is sometimes advisable to provide a prewash cycle which will flush the residue from the tumbler, this prewash being followed by a slug of cleansing agent and thereafter a rinsing operation. To accomplish this prewash the timer 182 is adjusted by opening switch 183 and closing switch 134 thus providing at the first interval a circuit from conductor 1% to 187 to energize the motor 35 initiating scrubbing action and also to energize solenoid 194 to operate valve 9% opening water line 87. Then after a predetermined period, the timer closes switch 210 to provide a circuit from conductor 186, 211, 212, normally closed switch 184, and conductor 213 to energized detergent pump solenoid 1%.

To provide a full measure of cleansing agent, the switch 184 is immediately opened thereafter, and solenoid 196 is deenergized, causing downstroke of the piston 130 to add a further increment of cleansing agent. This sequence is in contrast with the revious arrangement, in which cleansing agent is provided only at the very beginning of the cycle and the timer provides for energization of the pump actuator solenoid 196 at the beginning and at the end of the washing cycles.

During the cleansing operation the liquid cleansing agent and water is discharged against the glassware and flows downwardly against the walls of casing 24 where it is collected at the lowermost part of the catch basin 23 and then runs out discharge opening 22%] (FIG. 2). The discharge opening 220 discharges the waste fluid through .a T to a discharge line 221 having a hose 222 connected therewith. The flexible length of hose 222 then leads to a waste sink. In some installations the discharge line 221 can be permanently connected to a discharge facility. If the discharge line 221 becomes clogged and drainage becomes inadequate, waste fluid will eventually reach a spill line indicated by the dashed liquid level 225 whereupon it spills out over the lip of the catch basin. Above this level 225 is a short length of conduit 226 which can drain substantially all of the liquid in the fluid line beyond vacuum breaker 95, thus preventing any siphonage of fluid back to the potatable water supply even in the event of malfunctioning of vacuum breaker 95.

Since conduit 226 is at all times above uppermost level to which wastage fluid can rise, there is no possibility for siphoning any of the wastage fluid back to the potable water supply through the fluid conduits even in the event of malfunctioning of vacuum breaker 95. This arrangement meets all of the usual requirements in plumbing codes in various municipalities and states for safeguarding the potable water supply.

While the form of device herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to this precise form of device and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a glass washing machine, pump means for metering selected quantities of fluid material having cleansing properties, said pump comprising a housing provided with centrally located passage therethrough, a reciprocable piston slidably received in the longitudinal passage of said housing, passage means extending through said piston in the direction of the reciprocable movement thereof, said piston having a reduced diameter portion forming an annular chamber in conjunction with said housing, radial passage means connecting said passage means in said piston with said annular chamber, stern adjustably received in said housing on the opposite side of said piston from said annular chamber and having an axially extending bore therein, portions of said stem being engageable by said piston to form a stop therefor, said stem being threadedly movable longitudinally in said bore to control the extent of stroke of said piston to measure thereby the quantity of fluid pumped through said piston, a check valve providing for movement of fluid through said passage means in said piston in a metering direction only.

2. For use in a glass washing machine, pump means for metering selected quantities of fluid material having cleansing and germicidal properties, comprising a housing provided with passage therethrough, stem means adjustably received in one end of said passage and having an axially extending bore therein, a one-way valve providing fluid flow through said bore in one direction only, a reciprocable piston having a head slidably received in the other end of said passage of said housing and having a rod portion projecting from said other end of said passage, means connected to said piston for reciprocating said piston into and out of contact with said stem means, conduit means extending through said head of said piston in the direction of movement thereof, said rod portion of said piston forming an annular chamber in conjunction with said housing, means forming a seal between said rod portion and said other end of said passage, a check valve in said conduit means providing for movement of fluid through said piston head in a direction only toward said chamber, and means for adjusting said stem longitudinally in said passage to control the length of stroke of said piston for varying the quantity of fluid displaced through said piston head.

3. A metering pump as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for reciprocating said piston includes a spring urging said piston head into engagement with said stem and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson Mar. 5, 1940 6 Ferber Dec. 4, 1951 Saalfrank Apr. 29, 1958 Ahlstrand June 10, 1958 Smith Nov. 4, 1958 Wilde Mar. 1, 1960 Gardner Oct. 11, 1960 Fox et a1. July 17, 1962 

1. IN A GLASS WASHING MACHINE, PUMP MEANS FOR METERING SELECTED QUANTITIES OF FLUID MATERIAL HAVING CLEANSING PROPERTIES, SAID PUMP COMPRISING A HOUSING PROVIDED WITH CENTRALLY LOCATED PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A RECIPROCABLE PISTON SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN THE LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE OF SAID HOUSING, PASSAGE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PISTON IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID PISTON HAVING A REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION FORMING AN ANNULAR CHAMBER IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID HOUSING, RADIAL PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID PASSAGE MEANS IN SAID PISTON WITH SAID ANNULAR CHAMBER, STEM ADJUSTABLY 